We here at Horse Lover’s Math already know you love horses, but have you ever thought about having a career with horses? Working with horses doesn’t have to be just about riding. Even if you’ve never ridden – you can have a career with horses!
If you are a regular visitor to Horse Lover’s Math, you’ve probably already read about and worked on math problems based on current research about horses. Colorado State University (CSU) is one of the universities where that research is being done as part of their Equine Science Department.
Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, CSU offers more than 27 equine-specific classes including disease management, sales production, handling, event management, foaling management, therapeutic riding, nutrition, behaviour, production and industry, reproduction, training, packing and outfitting, genetics, exercise physiology and evaluation (judging). For a complete list of courses click here.
What does it take to get accepted?
If you meet the general CSU admissions requirements, you can elect the Equine Sciences major on your application.
Each application is given a careful, individual, holistic review. Priority consideration is given to applicants who have earned a minimum 3.25 GPA with no D/F grades and who will have successfully satisfied CSU’s academic course work standards before enrolling.
Most colleges will calculate your GPA using only the grades from your core academic classes. Basically, those are courses in the following:
- Math: Three to four years(algebra, geometry, calculus)
- English: Four years(composition, literature, speech)
- Social Sciences: Three years (history, sociology, psychology, political science, geography, economics
- Science: Three years (earth science, biology, chemistry, physics)
Taking courses in all core subject areas for four years (grades 9-12) is strongly recommended.
The CSU program also offers unique opportunities for students to travel and see parts of the equine industry that they otherwise may not have a chance to see.
In odd years, students are given a chance to take part in the CSU Breeds Across the U.S. Trip, which travels across Tennessee and Kentucky touring multiple horse farms, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, KESMARC, The Kentucky Horse Park, Churchill Downs, and more!
Math Talk – odd and even year: Odd years are those years ending with an odd number. Even years are those years ending with an even number.
In even years, students can partake in the CSU Ranch Trip, which travels across Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma touring legendary ranches, breeding farms, learning about the business of working ranches, cloning and more.
Check out this video of the 2011 CSU Breeds Across the U.S. Trip:
2011 CSU Equine Sciences Breeds Trip from David Denniston on Vimeo.
What types of jobs can you get upon graduation?
Horse show judge, nutritionist, breed association youth director or marketing director, breeding farm manager, sales representative, journalist for an equine publication, veterinarian, reproductive specialist, and trainer.
Now students can help horses give birth for credit at Colorado State University by taking foaling management, an elective course for both equine science and veterinary students.
The course consists of a lecture, labs to work with the pregnant mares and shifts during which a foal might be born. Check it out at: http://bit.ly/1AnaFs5